Is Pepperstone or IG better for CFD trading in Singapore?
Verdict
- Pepperstone is our pick over IG for cost-focused CFD traders in Singapore: a $10 minimum, published average spreads (EUR/USD 0.1 pips on Razor plus commission) and cTrader as well as MT4, MT5 and TradingView.
- IG is the better choice if local regulation comes first: IG Asia Pte Ltd holds a MAS licence, while Pepperstone serves Singapore from the Bahamas with no MAS licence.
- IG also offers guaranteed stop-loss orders on its UK site, which Pepperstone does not publish anywhere.
- IG's minimum deposit is unclear: its own pages give conflicting figures, including $450 for Singapore in one table.
Pepperstone and IG are both large, long-established CFD brokers, but they offer Singapore residents quite different deals. One is cheaper and more flexible on platforms; the other is regulated locally. Which is better depends on which of those you value more, so here is a point-by-point comparison from each broker's own pages.
Verdict: Pepperstone for cost and platforms, IG for local licensing
Choose Pepperstone if you want the lowest published trading costs and the widest platform choice: Razor averages 0.1 pips on EUR/USD plus $3.00 to $3.50 commission per side, and you get MT4, MT5, cTrader, TradingView and Pepperstone's app. Choose IG if you want a MAS-licensed Singapore company holding your account and the option of guaranteed stops. We rank Pepperstone first because most of our readers trade frequently, where costs compound, but the licence gap is a real difference, not a footnote.
Affiliate link — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Pepperstone vs IG at a glance
IG's pricing and platform list come from its UK pages; its Singapore offer may differ.
| Pepperstone | IG | |
|---|---|---|
| Company for Singapore | Pepperstone Markets Limited (Bahamas) | IG Asia Pte Ltd |
| Regulator | SCB, SIA-F217; no MAS licence | MAS capital markets services licence |
| Minimum deposit | $10 | Conflicting: $450 for Singapore in one table; no minimum by bank transfer in the UK help centre |
| EUR/USD | Razor 0.1 pips avg + commission; Standard 1.1 avg | From 0.6 points, no commission (minimum, not average) |
| Platforms | MT4, MT5, cTrader, TradingView, own app | Web and app, MT4, MT5, ProRealTime, L2 Dealer, TradingView |
| Guaranteed stop-loss | Not published | Yes; premium charged only if triggered (UK) |
| SGD account | Yes | Not in our data |
Where IG is stronger
- Local regulation: IG Asia Pte Ltd is licensed by MAS; Pepperstone has no Singapore entity.
- Guaranteed stops: free to place on IG's UK site, with a premium only if one is triggered, which caps your loss on that trade.
- Extra platforms: ProRealTime and L2 Dealer, which Pepperstone does not offer.
Where Pepperstone is stronger
- Transparent pricing: Pepperstone publishes average spreads; IG's 0.6 is a 'from' figure, so it shows the best case, not the usual one.
- Lower entry: $10 against IG's conflicting figures, which go as high as $450 for Singapore.
- cTrader, with the lowest Razor commission ($3.00 per side on FX) and C# automation.
- An SGD base currency, among ten on its international site.
How to decide
- If you will not hold an account outside MAS supervision, open with IG and stop there.
- If you trade often, work out your monthly cost at Pepperstone's published averages against IG's live spreads on its platform.
- If you rely on stop-losses in fast markets, weigh IG's guaranteed stops.
- If you want cTrader or several platforms on one account, Pepperstone is the one that offers them.
Sources
Pages from both brokers.
Is IG regulated in Singapore?
Yes. IG Asia Pte Ltd holds a MAS capital markets services licence; the licence number is not printed on IG's Singapore page.
Is Pepperstone cheaper than IG?
We can't prove it like for like, because IG publishes minimum spreads and Pepperstone publishes averages. On Pepperstone's averages, a round-turn lot of EUR/USD costs $7 to $8 on Razor.
Does Pepperstone offer guaranteed stops in Singapore?
No. Pepperstone publishes no guaranteed stop-loss order on the sites we checked; IG offers them on its UK site.
CFDs are complex instruments with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. Pepperstone's international site states that 80% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider; IG publishes its own figures. This comparison is not investment advice.